Chennai: Tamilnadu Chief Minister M K Stalin Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and raised a host of issues, including NEET exemption and the Mekedatu, and sought funds for various developmental programmes concerning the State.
During the meeting, Stalin submitted a 41-page memorandum to the
Prime Minister highlighting 14 issues concerning the state.
On the Mekedatu dam issue, he requested him to direct the Ministry
of Jal Shakti not to give any clearance to Karnataka for Mekedatu Project
or for any new reservoir project of Karnataka in the Cauvery basin, and
advise Cauvery Water Management Authority, also not to give approval
for the Mekedatu Project and direct the Karnataka Government not to
take up any new project construction activities in the Cauvery basin
without the prior consent of the Tamil Nadu Government.
He said Karnataka is planning to take up Mekedatu Reservoir Project, which
is a major project of capacity of 67.16 TMC ft., in the guise of drinking water
project, which is in violation of the February 16, 2018 Judgment of the Supreme Court.
In the Final Order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, which has been
modified by the Apex Court, the three components contributing to the annual
quantum of water to be delivered by the State of Karnataka at the inter-State
contact point have been clearly identified.
They are, (i) the flows coming in river Cauvery from the uncontrolled catchment of Kabini sub-basin, downstream of Kabini reservoir, the catchment of mainstream of Cauvery river below Krishnarajasagara, uncontrolled flows from Simsha, Arkavathy and Suvarnavathy sub-basins and various other small streams, (ii) release from Krishnarajasagara and (iii) release from Kabini reservoir.
The proposed Mekedatu project would impound and divert the first component of uncontrolled flows due to Tamilnadu. Therefore, the implementation of Mekedatu project would affect the interests of Tamilnadu’s farming community.
It is an attempt to impound the uncontrolled flows in violation of the award as affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Stalin said Karnataka cannot take action unilaterally to construct a reservoir in the Cauvery basin, as per the Supreme Court Judgment. Since, this project will affect Tamilnadu’s interest, Tamilnadu opposed it and filed applications in the Apex Court on 30 November, 2018 and a Miscellaneous Application on 27 August, 2021 which are pending in the Supreme Court and hence the matter is sub-judice.
Following objections from the Tamilnadu government, the Expert Appraisal
Committee for River Valley and Hydroelectric projects of Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in July, 2019 did not grant Terms of Reference to Karnataka’s Mekedatu project and directed to get the issue settled with the co-riparian States.
However, in violation of the Supreme Court and without obtaining the concurrences of the co-basin States, Karnataka has allocated a sum of Rs 1000 crore in its 2022-23 budget for the construction of the proposed Mekedatu Project, which has caused great anguish amongst the farmers of Tamilnadu.
Stalin urged Modi to find a permanent solution to the freqeunt arrest of TN fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, while reiterating that resotration of Katchatheevu, a islet ceded to Lanka, will alone put an end to this vexatious problem.
It is a fact that even in good or normal rainfall years, the Karnataka government is not releasing water as per the monthly schedule fixed by the Supreme Court, especially during the months of June to September, when the cultivation has to be commenced and progressed as per the time tested crop calendar for better yield and consequently sustain the livelihood of the farmers. He urged Prime Minister to exempt the State from NEET and allow the State government to fill all professional seats including MBBS, BDS, Ayush courses on the basis of Class XII marks alone.
Stalin urged Modi to find a way out to enable the affected students to
continue their studies in medical colleges in India from the stage from which their studies in Ukraine have been disrupted due to Russian military attacks.
Stalin requested Modi to tell the Union Home Ministry to advise the Sri Lankan government to ensure equal civil and political rights for Eelam Tamils in the Island Nation. He also requested permission to help Lankan Tamils affected by economic crisis.